Hand Count EcoSystem
The chart above depicts a non-exhaustive set of activities that surround and support the physical hand counting of votes
There is no “one size that fits all”, rather a series of considerations that will necessarily need to be tailored to your county's specific situation
Beyond tallying votes the following support functions need a structured approach to a successful hand count.
Planning and Estimating
Batching (this includes receiving ballots)
Results Reporting
In Texas, the SOS has advised there is no function within the election code that allows for Early Voting or Mail In ballots to be transported to individual precincts to be hand counted on Election Day. They will need to be counted in a central location.
With three different voting periods - Early Voting In Person, Mail-In and Election Day, the Batching and Reporting processes may vary across these 3 periods (Planning & Implementation and Counting remain relatively similar).
For example when Early Voting or Mail-In results are aggregated at a central location precinct result can be aggregated to produce total results for a voting period and submitted to the county election’s office.
With Election Day voting, individual precinct level results are prepared and delivered to the county election office for aggregation. In a Primary election, the Party can do their own Election Day aggregation after precinct results are delivered to the County.